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Xeno Müller (born 7 August 1972)[1] is a Swiss rower and Olympic gold medallist.

Xeno Müller
Personal information
CitizenshipSwitzerland 
Born7 August 1972  (age 50)
Occupationrower 
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Sport
Medal record
Men's rowing
Representing   Switzerland
Olympic Games
1996 AtlantaSingle scull
2000 SydneySingle scull
World Championships
1994 IndianapolisSingle scull
1998 CologneSingle scull
1999 St. CatharinesSingle scull

Early career and university


His first international appearance was at the 1990 World Rowing Junior Championships – winning bronze in his single scull (1x).

He first competed at the senior level in 1991, and at the age of 19, finished 11th at the World Rowing Championships in Vienna in the single scull. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, he just missed making the finals, finishing fourth in the semi-finals (3 to advance). Müller chose not to start the petite (consolation) finals for places 7 through 12 because of a back injury. In 1994 and 1995, he finished 2nd and 6th, respectively, at the World Championships.

During this period, Müller began studying at Brown University in the United States. He helped lead Brown to an undefeated season and a national championship in 1993 in the eight-man boat. Following this collegiate victory and his subsequent disappointing finish at the 1993 World Championships in the double scull event, Müller decided to concentrate solely on the single scull. This decision created friction between Müller and the then coach at Brown Steve Gladstone.

In 1994 Müller was the first ever single sculler rowing the 2000 meters in a time way below 6.40. Müller showed a first dominating season in his single with winning the Overall FISA Rowing World Cup and World Cup Races in Paris with a time of 6.38, Lucerne with a new 'Rotsee' record also below 6.40 and the Diamond Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta. Only at the World Championships he was defeated by the German André Willms.

After spending two years in Providence, Rhode Island, attending Brown and rowing his single scull, Müller moved to Newport Beach, California, which offered a better climate for year-round training. He also met his future wife in Newport.


Olympic debut


Müller won gold in the single scull at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Müller won the race with a strong finish. He was 3 seconds down and in fourth place at the 1000 meter mark (half way) and he moved up to third and just 1 second down with 500 meters to go. Müller then launched a devastating drive to the line. He won decisively besting Derek Porter who had led the whole race, and his childhood hero, and two-time Olympic Champion Thomas Lange who finished third. Müller's last 500 was the fastest 500 meter split time of the day. His time of 6:44.85 has been an Olympic record until Tim Maeyens of Belgium finished his heat at the 2012 London Olympics in a time of 6:42.52.


1998 season onwards


Following his Olympic victory, Müller took a year off from rowing. In 1998, he won two World Cup race besting future rival Rob Waddell. But at the World Rowing Championships, Waddell had the best race of his life pushing Müller back to second. In the pre-season to the 1998 rowing calendar, Waddell set a world record on the indoor rowing machine. In 1999, Waddell went on to sweep the World Cup races and the World Championships, Müller getting second each time.

Leading up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Müller entered World Cup race in Vienna, where he finally beat Waddell after four consecutive second-place finishes. Müller did not enter any other preliminary races, and Waddell won the World Cup race in Lucerne. Between the 1996 Olympics and the 2000 Olympics, Müller's record against Waddell was 3 out of 7.

Both Waddell and Müller won all of their preliminary heats leading up to the Olympic finals. In the finals, in addition to his rival two-time reigning World Champion Rob Waddell, Müller faced former World Champion and Olympic silver medalist Derek Porter and rising star Marcel Hacker. It was the closest men's single scull final ever. They battled down the course with the lead changing several times. Müller gained the lead in the last 1000 meters, but Waddell stayed with him. Gradually, Waddell wore Müller down, passing him in the sprint. Despite having a chest cold, Müller held on for the silver medal. Hacker finished third and a disappointed Porter finished fourth. Just over two seconds – the length of a boat – separated first from fourth place.


Retirement and career


Having lived in the United States since 1992 (and attending Brown University) Müller became a naturalized citizen of the United States in early 2004. He then announced he would trial for the US team for the Athens Olympics. He had won all of the preliminary trial races. However, just before the start of the final set of trials, there were a number of high-profile killings of foreigners in Iraq as part of the Iraq War, and Americans were believed to be potential targets for violence at the Olympics by al-Qaeda. Müller pulled out of the trials, saying:

When you have three children and a wife and you leave them, then leave them again to go overseas, and you see somebody's head getting cut off ... you start having clouds in your head for why you want to proceed like this, with all the responsibility about traveling, leaving the family, etcetera.

Müller currently runs an indoor rowing studio called The Iron Oarsman in Orange County, California, and is a goodwill ambassador for the sport of rowing. At this time, he is the sole producer of indoor rowing workout DVDs.

He is married to his wife Erin, and has four children.


Achievements



Olympic Games



World Championships



Junior World Championships



US collegiate rowing



Henley Royal Regatta



References





На других языках


- [en] Xeno Müller

[fr] Xeno Müller

Xeno Müller, né le 7 août 1972 à Zurich, est un rameur suisse.

[it] Xeno Müller

Xeno Müller (Zurigo, 7 agosto 1972) è un ex canottiere svizzero.

[ru] Мюллер, Ксено

Ксено Мюллер (нем. Xeno Müller, род. 7 августа 1972 года, Цюрих, Швейцария) — американско-швейцарский гребец, чемпион летних Олимпийских игр 1996 года в турнире одиночек, серебряный призёр летних Олимпийских игр 2000 года, трёхкратный серебряный призёр чемпионатов мира.



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